Ekaterina Makarova(Russian) Biography

The 23-year-old Russian caused a big upset at the 2011 Australian Open when she knocked out 19th seed Ana Ivanovic in the first round 6-3/4-6/8-10 which was the biggest win of her career.

But this was not just a fluke for the unseeded player, she went on to defeat Number 13 seed Nadia Petrova in the 3rd round 6-2/3-6/8-6 to set up a 4th round encounter with 3rd seed Kim Clijsters.

Makarova began playing tennis at the age of 6-years-old when a friend introduced her to the sport at Clud Luzhniki and she joined the senior tour at the age of 15.

Her first professional tournament in Elektrostal, Russia on a Wild Card where she reached the Quarter Finals but she lost to Olga Savchuk in three sets.

Qualifying for the 2008 US Open she beat Julia Schruff and Ai Sugiyama but was knocked out by the then Number 1 Justine Henin 6-0/6-2.

In 2009 she hit a bad patch when she lost in the first rounds of the French Open, AEGON Classic and in the second round of Wimbledon followed by a 7-match losing streak.

Her bad patch continued into 2010 when she lost in the first round in Brisbane, Sydney and in the 2nd round of the Australian Open plus the first round of the French Open, but she managed to pick herself up and come from qualifying to win the AEGON International in Eastbourne without dropping a set and beating five Top 20 players in the process, Flavia Pennetta, Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Samantha Stosur and Victoria Azarenka in the Finals.

She is coached by Evgenia Manyukova and travels with her mother Olga. Off court she enjoys soccer, pop music - her favourite singer Jennifer Lopez - and eating pizza.

She enjoys playing on the tour as it gives her a chance to indulge in her favourite hobby going shopping which helps her relax. She has been sponsored by Lotto for her shoes and sportswear.